Page 28 of Betrayed

Chapter Nine

At the beginning of their shift Tuesday morning, Logan walked out of the station beside Will and Zara.

Zara swatted his arm. “I’m so mad at you for not telling me about AJ being your wife.”

She’d let it slide last night, even after they left AJ on the couch at her grandmother’s house. But he’d known it was coming.

“I’m not a fan of talking about it.”

“But your wife? When did that happen? And what on earth came between you?”

“Zara.” Logan stopped walking. “I can’t. Not right now.”

“I’m sorry.” She and Will stopped too.

“I get your questions, but … I just can’t.” It was too much to even think about. He needed his head clear while on duty. “Later.”

“Okay.” She nodded.

He squeezed her arm. “Thank you.” After a bid to stay safe, he went to his car and began his patrols. Hopefully, it would be a busy day. He needed to not get stuck in his head. He’d rather chase down some criminals. Maybe Daryl would do something loathsome, and Logan could arrest him. That would feel good.

Stop.

He switched the radio on to the Christian station. A song about forgiveness played. He let out a “humph.” Ain’t gonna happen.

Relieved that the song was over quickly, he let the music continue to play even though he didn’t really listen to the words.

An hour into his shift, a call came in that a trash can had been lit on fire. Logan was close, so he responded.

He arrived at the home of Caleb and Amelia Johnson. Caleb was a paramedic, and Amelia a city detective.

Caleb stood outside, fire extinguisher in his hand. He waved to Logan. “Hey. It was a couple of kids. They ran that way. Amelia pursued.”

Logan nodded and took off down the street in the direction Caleb had indicated.

He ran half a block before Amelia, a petite woman with short dark hair, came out from around another house shoving a teenage boy in cuffs.

She smiled at Logan. “I caught one of them. The other one is long gone. Perhaps this dude will give up his counterpart.”

Logan took a hard look at the kid. “Are you the one who ran out of my carport the other day?”

The kid just snarled at him.

Logan took him from Amelia, and they read the kid his Miranda rights and walked back to Logan’s squad. They came around to the side of the Johnson’s house, and Logan pointed at the melted mess that was once a trash can. It was a good thing Caleb caught it when he did and was able to put it out. There was a small section where it was clear the flames had licked the garage. “What were you thinking?”

The kid growled.

“Dude, grow up. You are in deep trouble here. This isn’t just any house; it’s a cop’s home. And we don’t take kindly to people messing with our own.”

The teen pressed his lips together.

“Fine, don’t talk. It’s your right, but the truth will come out. It always does.”

Amelia said, “I’m going to check on my kids, then I’ll meet you at the station. Is that okay?”

“Absolutely.” Logan put the teen in the back of his squad car.

He had the kid booked and passed off by the time Amelia arrived.